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I hate it when I get my friends all pumped up for a great tailgating experience, and then the guy who is responsible for the grill shows up with a crappy one. You can only imagine the angry faces and stares. Not fun at all! Perhaps you want to avoid all that and that’s why you’re going through several Weber Performer Charcoal Grill reviews, and it’s perfectly understandable given the junk that’s out there.
So, to make your life easier, we dug up all the good, the bad and the outright ugly about this 22” charcoal grill and have it all right here! So read along and be sure to check out shocking complaints about it at the end of this Weber Performer Charcoal Grill review. Let’s do this!
About Weber Grills:
Company Highlights
- Company Name: Weber-Stephen Products LLC
- URL: Weber.com
- Address: Palatine, Illinois
- Founder: George A. Stephen
Weber-Stephen Products, LLC found online at Weber.com is an American manufacturer of gas, charcoal and electric grills, including the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill. The company was founded by George A. Stephen in 1893, and they are now one of the most popular grill makers in the industry.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Features:
- Fuel Source: Charcoal
- Cooking Capacity: 363 square inches
- Construction: Heavy-duty steel frame
- Elevation: Stand-up
- Size & Weight: 29 x 42 x 43.5 inches, 66.2lbs
- Assembly: Required
The Performer 22” has some pretty interesting features. So, let’s break this baby down and see what it’s made of:
363 Square Inch Cooking Space – A large enough cooking space helps avoid the hassle that comes with partial serving where guests have to wait for the second round of cooking to get there first meal. With 363 inches to work with, you can comfortably feed a party of 10-15 tailgaters.
Electric Touch and Go Gas Ignition System – All grill lovers and tailgaters are aware of the annoyance that comes with lighting up a grill, especially a charcoal-based gill. The Weber Performer has a work-around for this with a built-in electric touch-and-go ignition system assuring you a fast startup.
Built-In Lid Thermometer – The Weber Performer features a built-in thermometer, which ensures that you have the right temperature for adequate grilling.
Removable Aluminum Ash Catcher – The grill comes with a detachable ash catcher, which guarantees a clean cooking environment and reduces the chances of an ash ridden fest.
Tuck-Away Lid Holder – A tuck-away lid holder is a fast and easy way to quickly set down the lid in case you want to remove the drip tray. It also doubles up as a windbreaker.
Other Notable Features:
- Heavy-duty steel cart frame
- Aluminum steel one-touch cleaning system
- Removable backlight LCD cook timer
- Lid handle with heat shield
- Porcelain-enameled bowl and lid
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Cleaning & Maintenance:
You can imagine what condition your car would be in if you skipped a few car-wash sessions. The same goes for grills. Old debris and impurities reduce the quality of the grill, causing a reduction in the durability and capability of the grill over time. So, regular cleaning is advised after every BBQ session.
While cleaning the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill, my recommendation would be to direct all the accumulated grease to the side of the grill towards the collection chamber. The grill grates, cook box and lid can then be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a scrub. Ash collection can be done less frequently as it does not really fill up as fast, however regular cleaning of the same would be the best practice.
To store the grill, you can tuck it away in a storage bag to protect it from the elements. You can get this model’s cover for about $42 on Amazon.com if you don’t have one.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Portability:
Fully assembled, the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill measures 43.5” H x 48” W x 30” D, and comes with a 363 square inch cooking area. But, despite the size of this grill, it does not compromise on portability. It has two wheels at the bottom, so you can effortlessly drag it to your setup area. However, I would not recommend it for backpackers, and campers as 66.2 pounds may require a little extra heavy-lifting to get through that rough terrain.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Warranty:
The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill 22” comes with a 10-year warranty for the bowl and lid. You also get a 5-year warranty for the plastic components and the one-touch cleaning system. All remaining parts have a 2-year warranty. The warranty, however, excludes rusts and burn throughs.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Accessories:
The Weber Performer is an adequate grill on its own. However, to get the most out of it, there are accessories that you can take advantage of. Here are some that we came across:
You can shop for these accessories and more on Amazon.com for the best prices and great deals, like the 1-3 Day Free Delivery if you’re a Prime member.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Replacement Parts:
The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill will certainly experience wear and tear over time as most grills do. But you won’t necessarily need to buy a totally new grill if things break down. Here’s a list of those parts you can replace:
- Temperature Probe
- One-touch System Cleaning Kit
- Charcoal Grate
- Stainless Steel Drip Pan
- Pellet Grill Hotrod
- Stainless Steel Fire Pot Grease Bucket
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Cost:
The Weber Performer 22” charcoal grill is one of the most cost-efficient grills you’ll find on the market. But we’ve come to expect that from Weber. You can get it on Amazon.com for a little under $300.
If you’re shopping online, you’ll probably get a good deal on it if you know where to look. Since Amazon never falls short of deals and offers, like the Free 1-3 Day Delivery for Prime members, you’ll probably get the best price for it if you shop there.
What Do We Like?
The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill comes with plenty of pros adding to the allure of the grill. So, here’s what we like about it:
Great grilling power – The grill can easily handle extreme heat so prepare for well-seared steaks and juicy briskets.
Energy source options – Hate cooking with charcoal? Get some flavored pellets or wood chunks and throw them in there instead! The cook box is designed to accommodate most types of wood-based fuel sources.
Easy to use – The grill’s large surface area allows for effortless cooking for an army of tailgaters. The grill is also easily portable, with wheels at the base and a sturdy build as well.
Innovative and environmental-friendly – We’re not comparing charcoal grills to the greener electric counterparts, but the thermometer and a backlit LCD screen with electric ignition definitely make it energy-efficient, reducing the unit’s carbon footprint.
Weber Performer Charcoal Grill Complaints:
Although there is an overwhelmingly positive response to the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill, there are some complaints that have been identified:
Poor ventilation – The grill may be a slow cooker, with a crappy ventilation system that doesn’t allow the charcoal to burn efficiently. It seems that while they focused more on making the grill energy-efficient, they forgot that some BBQers prefer molten-grade heat.
Needs a wrench – Although the grill is easy to assemble, the center nut for the lid holder may require a wrench, as the crescent wrench cannot reach the nut at the center of the lid. This mechanical issue may not be that easy to fix if you’re an amateur tailgater.
Other Tailgating Grills You May Like
If you still feel there may be more fish in the sea, here are some other tailgating grills you may like:
- Coleman Fold N Go Grill Review – Super light, small, very portable
- Weber Spirit II E-310 – Almost similar shape and build, slightly cheaper propane alternative
- Coleman Sportster – Lighter, more portable, but smaller propane option
Should You Buy The Weber Performer Charcoal Grill?
If you’re looking for a great tailgating experience with a grill that will get the job done, feel free to get the Weber Performer Charcoal Grill. With great grilling power, a large enough cooking space, an impressive list of accessories, wheels for portability and easy assembly, it may be hard to say no to all of these features.
You even have the option of using pellets or wood chunks instead of the good old charcoal. Boy, I think I’m talking myself into actually buying it! But some customers say the grill cooks slow, but that’s highly subjective given that this is a charcoal grill.
If you’re as sold as I am, you can get it on Amazon.com where you get great deals and offers, such as the Free Guaranteed 1-3 Day Prime Delivery.
What’s Hot
- Great grilling power
- Energy source options
- Easy to use
- Innovative and environmental-friendly
What’s Not
- Poor ventilation
- Needs a wrench
Well, that’s my Weber Performer Charcoal Grill review. Did we miss anything? Feel free to share your thoughts about this or any other grill in the comments section below. If you still have questions, you can find answers on the product’s Amazon page.
Chris